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PubMed1997

Organization of the peripheral nervous system: autonomic and sensory ganglia.

Major advances have been made in our understanding of autonomic and sensory transmission and function during the past two decades. These include (i) the establishment of the role of sympathetic and parasympathetic ganglia in relaying neuronal information from the central nervous system to effector organs, (ii) the recognition that enteric ganglia, the third component of the autonomic nervous system, contain independent integrative circuits that control complex local activities, (iii) the evidence for local effector functions of primary sensory nerves in addition to their role in sensory transmission, and (iv) the discovery of plasticity of both autonomic and sensory neurons during disease states and inflammation. A major contribution to these new concepts has been the recognition that in both autonomic and sensory ganglia a variety of transmitters coexist in single neurons. Co-transmission is a widespread phenomenon that enables autonomic and sensory neurons to exert fine and highly regulated control of various functions such as circulation, respiration, digestion, and immune response. This chapter will focus on the general principles and specific features of autonomic and sensory ganglia, with a particular emphasis on their general organization and neurochemical properties. Classical concepts and modern principles of classification of autonomic and sensory ganglia are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Post-stimulus potentiation of transmission in pelvic ganglia enhances sympathetic dilatation of guinea-pig uterine artery in vitro.

Vasodilatation produced by stimulation of preganglionic neurones in lumbar and sacral pathways to pelvic ganglia was studied using an in vitro preparation of guinea-pig uterine artery and associated nerves in a partitioned bath allowing selective drug application to the ganglia or artery. Arterial diameter was monitored using real time video imaging. Vasodilatations produced by hypogastric nerve stimulation (HN; 300 pulses, 10 Hz) were significantly larger and longer in duration than with pelvic nerve stimulation (N = 18). Stimulation of ipsilateral lumbar splanchnic nerves or ipsilateral third lumbar ventral roots also produced prolonged vasodilatations. Blockade of ganglionic nicotinic receptors (0.1-1 mM hexamethonium) delayed the onset and sometimes reduced the peak amplitude of dilatations, but slow dilatations persisted in 16 of 18 preparations. These dilatations were not reduced further by 3 microM capsaicin applied to the artery and ganglia, or ganglionic application of 1 microM hyoscine, 30-100 microM suramin or 10 microM CNQX. Dilatations were reduced slightly by ganglionic application of NK1 and NK3 receptor antagonists (SR140333, SR142801; 1 microM), but were reduced significantly by bathing the ganglia in 0.5 mM Ca2+ and 10 mM Mg2+. Intracellular recordings of paracervical ganglion neurones revealed fast excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) in all neurones on HN stimulation (300 pulses, 10 Hz), and slow EPSPs (3-12 mV amplitude) in 25 of 37 neurones. Post-stimulus action potential discharge associated with slow EPSPs occurred in 16 of 37 neurones (firing rate 9.4 +/- 1.5 Hz). Hexamethonium (0.1-1 mM) abolished fast EPSPs. Hexamethonium and hyoscine (1 microM) did not reduce slow EPSPs and associated post-stimulus firing in identified vasodilator neurones (with VIP immunoreactivity) or non-vasodilator paracervical neurones. These results demonstrate a predominantly sympathetic origin of autonomic pathways producing pelvic vasodilatation in females. Non-cholinergic mediators of slow transmission in pelvic ganglia produce prolonged firing of postganglionic neurones and long-lasting dilatations of the uterine artery. This mechanism would facilitate maintenance of pelvic vasodilatation on stimulation of preganglionic neurones during sexual activity.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Neuropsychiatry of the basal ganglia.

This review aims to relate recent findings describing the role and neural connectivity of the basal ganglia to the clinical neuropsychiatry of basal ganglia movement disorders and to the role of basal ganglia disturbances in "psychiatric"' states. Articles relating to the relevant topics were initially collected through MEDLINE and papers relating to the clinical conditions discussed were also reviewed. The anatomy and connections of the basal ganglia indicate that these structures are important links between parts of the brain that have classically been considered to be related to emotional functioning and brain regions previously considered to have largely motor functions. The basal ganglia have a role in the development and integration of psychomotor behaviours, involving motor functions, memory and attentional mechanisms, and reward processes.

Basal Ganglia↗
PubMed2001

An MRI study of basal ganglia volumes in first-episode schizophrenia patients treated with risperidone.

OBJECTIVE: The basal ganglia may contribute to extrapyramidal movement disorders, affective disturbances, and cognitive deficits in schizophrenia. Basal ganglia volumes are putatively affected by antipsychotic medications. The purpose of this study was to determine the long-term effects of risperidone treatment in a cohort of first-episode patients with schizophrenia. METHOD: The subjects were 30 patients with first-episode schizophrenia, 12 patients chronically treated with typical antipsychotics, and 23 healthy comparison subjects. They were scanned by magnetic resonance imaging at baseline. The first-episode patients received 1 year of continuous risperidone treatment, after which they and the comparison subjects were rescanned. Caudate, putamen, and globus pallidus volumes were determined from coronal images. RESULTS: The baseline caudate, putamen, and globus pallidus volumes were significantly larger in the chronically treated patients than in the untreated first-episode subjects and comparison subjects. These volumes did not differ between the first-episode patients and healthy comparison subjects. Basal ganglia volumes were unchanged after 1 year of exposure to risperidone in the first-episode subjects. Extrapyramidal movement disorders were present in the majority of chronically treated patients and more than one-third of the never-medicated first-episode patients at baseline. CONCLUSIONS: This group of first-episode patients did not exhibit abnormalities of basal ganglia volumes, nor were basal ganglia volumes affected by exposure to risperidone. Movement disorders were observed in both first-episode and chronically treated patients, suggesting effects of both illness and medications.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Morphology and neurochemistry of the pelvic, and paracervical ganglia.

Autonomic ganglia are relays in the distribution of nerve fibres in the peripheral nervous system. In the pelvis there are local ganglion formations in the pathway of nerve fibres to and from pelvic viscera and vasculature: in rodents these are the male anterior major pelvic ganglion and the female paracervical ganglion (Frankenhäuser's ganglion). They are unusual in that they contain both sympathetic and parasympathetic ganglion cells. Homologous formations occur in humans. Since the best studied examples of these ganglionic formations are rodent ganglia the latter are reviewed in terms of their gross anatomy, cell morphology and immunohistochemistry. The synaptology, and neurotransmitter and neuropeptide contents of the neuronal perikarya and nerve terminals, of the ganglia are discussed in relation to the concepts of coexistence and chemical coding in autonomic ganglia in general. The neuropeptide content of the nerve fibres projecting to their visceral targets is described and discussed in functional terms. Conclusions are drawn with respect to the contributions made by study of these ganglia to further understanding of the organisation of the autonomic nervous system in general. The possible link between the autonomic nervous system and the endocrine system is discussed with respect to control of pelvic visceral activities.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[History of the basal ganglia system. Slow development of a major cerebral system].

Initially, basal ganglia was a descriptive term for onto- and phylogenetic or topographic classifications. A variable list of structures were included as basal ganglia. A major step was made when the thalamus was separated from the "striated bodies" (Vic d'Azyr, 1786) which was sometimes taken into account in the French description of the noyaux gris centraux. Even if the term is not perfect, it is preferable to "the system of basal ganglia". The subdivisions of the putamen, the distinction between the striatum and the pallidum were not really made until the beginning of the twentieth century. Modern tracing methods were needed to demonstrate the main connections. It was not until the end of the 1960s that the importance of the striato-pallido-nigral network within the basal ganglia and the cortico-striatal connections, the main afferent system, were recognized. With the description of the cortico-striatal connections, the sub-cortical system with multiple complex "loops" was questioned. The term "extra-pyramidal system" had an exaggerated success. Initially, it designated descending non-pyramidal afferents (some which do not exist) and their source. In 1992, Spatz based his separation of this heterogeneous group on the iron content. The terms of extra-pyramidal "system" and "syndrome" should be abandoned by clinicians. Physiological interpretations have varied. The role of automatic "habitual" motricity, derived from a concept of hierarchic, Jacksonian cerebral organization, was questioned when the pyramidal network was described. Clinico-pathological analysis (hemiballism, Parkinson's disease ...) has placed new emphasis on the motor role, for a time the only role accepted as real. More recently, debate has centred on other roles, particularly in cognition and motivation. An illustration of functions other than purely motor functions of the basal ganglia is given by the syndromes of loss of psychic auto-activation secondary to bilateral lesions.

Basal Ganglia↗
PubMed1996

[A study on the reflex arc outside the central nervous system with sympathetic ganglia as the centre].

The distribution of SP-like immunoreactivity in the sensory and sympathetic ganglia, as well as the fiber connection between sensory ganglia and sympathetic ganglia (SG) were studied by the immunohistochemical ABC and HRP methods. A large number of SP-like neurons were found in all dorsal root ganglia (DRG), and a large number of SP-like fibers and terminals were found in both thoracic SG and coeliac-cranial mesenteric ganglion complex (CCMG), but no SP positive perikaryons were seen in those ganglia. The various nerves connected with the CCMG have been cut, the results demonstrate that the SP immunoreactive material in the ganglion were only decreased obviously or disappeared by cutting the DRG associated with the CCMG. After injecting HRP into T7-9DRG, a few of labelled neurons were found in thoracic SG of the relative segments and CCMG. The results mentioned above revealed that SP-containing fibers and terminals present in the SG come from collateral branches of primary sensory neurons in the DRG, the postganglionic fibers from principal ganglion neurons in the SG projecting to the DRG, the connection of reciprocal fibers are present between the DRG and the SG. It is suggested that a reflex shortloop outside the central nervous system may be formed directly by primary afferent neuron and sympathetic postganglionic neuron for the purpose of regulating the activity of autonomic nervous system and, moreover the sympathetic nerve may have a feedback regulation function to the primary afferent. The results mentioned above offer the partial morphological testimony for the expoundity of acupuncture mechanism.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Neuropsychological alterations in patients with computed tomography-detected basal ganglia calcification.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the cognitive and mental status of patients with basal ganglia calcification on a computed tomographic scan. DESIGN: Eighteen ambulatory patients with basal ganglia calcification and without other radiological findings who were identified from the computed tomography records of a general hospital in a 2-year period and 16 control subjects who were matched for age, education, sex, and premorbid IQ estimation consented to participate. All subjects underwent a neurological evaluation, a comprehensive neuropsychological battery, and tests with psychiatric rating scales. RESULTS: Significant differences for the control group were found in tests that evaluated motor speed and executive, visuospatial, and some memory functions. Four patients (22%) met criteria for organic mood disorder (minor depression, three patients; bipolar depression, one patient) according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Revised Third Edition, whereas six other patients (33%) met diagnostic criteria for obsessive-compulsive disorder. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that patients with basal ganglia calcifications frequently have a subcortical pattern of neuropsychological dysfunction and behavioral changes that are known to be associated with alterations of the frontal-limbic-basal ganglia circuits. The pattern of neuropsychological impairment is consistent with basal ganglia damage. However, poor performance in other neuropsychological tests suggest additional involvement of other connected networks.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Effect of basal ganglia injury on central dopamine activity in Gulf War syndrome: correlation of proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy and plasma homovanillic acid levels.

BACKGROUND: Many complaints of Gulf War veterans are compatible with a neurologic illness involving the basal ganglia. METHODS: In 12 veterans with Haley Gulf War syndrome 2 and in 15 healthy control veterans of similar age, sex, and educational level, we assessed functioning neuronal mass in both basal ganglia by measuring the ratio of N-acetyl-aspartate to creatine with proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Central dopamine activity was assessed by measuring the ratio of plasma homovanillic acid (HVA) and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenlyglycol (MHPG). RESULTS: The logarithm of the age-standardized HVA/MHPG ratio was inversely associated with functioning neuronal mass in the left basal ganglia (R(2) = 0.56; F(1,27) = 33.82; P<.001) but not with that in the right (R(2) = 0. 04; F(1,26) = 1.09; P =.30). Controlling for age, renal clearances of creatinine and weak organic anions, handedness, and smoking did not substantially alter the associations. CONCLUSIONS: The reduction in functioning neuronal mass in the left basal ganglia of these veterans with Gulf War syndrome seems to have altered central dopamine production in a lateralized pattern. This finding supports the theory that Gulf War syndrome is a neurologic illness, in part related to injury to dopaminergic neurons in the basal ganglia.

Basal Ganglia Diseases↗
PubMed1996

Endogenous nerve growth factor is required for regulation of the low affinity neurotrophin receptor (p75) in sympathetic but not sensory ganglia.

During development, many sympathetic and sensory neurons are dependent on nerve growth factor (NGF) for survival. The low affinity neurotrophin receptor (p75), expressed in these neurons, is regulated by exogenous NGF in vitro and in vivo. However, whether p75 expression in vivo is under the control of endogenous NGF has not been determined. The role of NGF in regulating the expression of p75 in sympathetic and sensory nerves was investigated in Sprague-Dawley rats treated with an antiserum specific for NGF. P75 was differentially regulated. P75 immunoreactivity (-ir) within sympathetic neurons in the superior cervical ganglia (SCG) was reduced after 2 days, and disappeared after 5 days, of treatment with the NGF antiserum. In contrast, a significant increase in p75-ir was detected in nerve bundles within and close to the SCG from 3 to 14 days after treatment. A similar pattern of p75 expression was observed in the stellate and coeliac ganglia. In contrast, p75 expression in nerve terminals of the mesenteric arteries and irides was reduced. However, in the same animals the expression of p75 was not significantly affected by the treatment in dorsal root, trigeminal or nodose ganglia, salivary gland or small intestine. In contrast to p75, the NGF high affinity receptor trkA was little affected in sympathetic neurons by depletion of endogenous NGF for 2 weeks. These results indicate that endogenous NGF is required in sympathetic ganglia for the expression of p75 but not trkA in neurons, but for the down-regulation of p75 in glia. In contrast, endogenous NGF is not essential for the regulation of p75 in neurons or glia within sensory ganglia.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Representations of hindlimb digits in rat dorsal root ganglia.

The distribution in dorsal root ganglia of neurones that innervate the distal tips of the hindlimb digits in the rat were mapped after subcutaneous injections of the fluorescent tracers Fast Blue, Diamidino Yellow, and Fluoro-Gold into different digits. Three-dimensional reconstruction was used to describe the intraganglionic distribution of neurones labelled from different digits. Labelled neurones were found mainly in the L3-L5 ganglia. The distribution in ganglia and the number of neurones labelled from each digit varied considerably between cases, but mean numbers of labelled neurones were similar for the different digits. Neurones in L3 tended to innervate medial digits and neurones in L5 tended to innervate lateral digits, but most neurones from any digit were found in L4. Although overlap was considerable, the three-dimensional reconstruction showed tendencies of neurones to be distributed in restricted territories within the dorsal root ganglia. This was especially clear in ganglion L5, where digit IV was found to be represented more rostrally than digit V. The results indicate that primary afferent neurones that innervate the hindlimb digits are represented by a crude rostrocaudal somatotopic organisation both among and within lumbar dorsal root ganglia.

Afferent Pathways↗
PubMed1996

Neuropathology of human sympathetic autonomic ganglia.

The neuropathologic alterations which underlie autonomic nervous system dysfunction in aging and in a variety of diseases have been systematically examined in the sympathetic ganglia of a series of 347 autopsied adults and in a review of previously published studies. Markedly swollen terminal axons containing neurofilamentous aggregates were found immediately adjacent to the neuronal cell bodies of prevertebral sympathetic ganglia in aging, in diabetes, and, to a lesser extent, in alcoholism. Dystrophic axons appeared to involve subpopulations of intraganglionic nerve fibers, chiefly those containing neuropeptide Y (NPY), and were more frequent in males than females. Neither aging nor diabetes resulted in significant numbers of actively degenerating neurons or a substantial decrease in neuronal density. Parenchymal aggregates of lymphocytes in the ganglionic neuropil and perivascular regions represented a frequent histologic finding in both prevertebral and paravertebral ganglia; however, they were not selectively increased in frequency or intensity in diabetic subjects or in any other disease entity. Many dilated clear "vacuoles," apparently located within the neuronal cell bodies of paravertebral and prevertebral ganglia according to light microscopy, were subsequently shown by electron microscopy to represent vacuolated or fluid-filled neurites, most likely terminal axons or synapses. Vacuolated neurites were more frequent in, although not confined to, diabetic patients. Similar pathologic findings have been reported in studies of sympathetic ganglia in various human diseases. The frequency of some pathologic lesions in control populations as a function of age or gender necessitates the careful selection of a relatively large, appropriately matched, control population for comparison with presumed disease-induced ganglionic neuropathology, and emphasizes the importance of quantitative comparisons.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Synaptic organization of amphibian sympathetic ganglia.

The synaptic organization of the amphibian sympathetic ganglia was studied, especially in the last two abdominal paravertebral ganglia of the frog. These ganglia appear to form a monosynaptic relay, not containing interneurons. They consist of two systems working in parallel: the principal neurons, by far the most numerous, and a small number of chromaffin (i.e., SIF) cells, usually arranged in clusters. Each principal neuron is innervated by a preganglionic branch forming a set of cholinergic synapses which exhibit classical ultrastructure. The only peculiarity is the presence of a subsynaptic apparatus in a variable percentage of synaptic complexes. Electrophysiological studies have demonstrated that synaptic transmission is due to ACh release and involves several postsynaptic potentials. Moreover, the principal neurons are of two types, B and C, whose preganglionic axons and their own axons have different conduction velocities. C neurons tend to be small in diameter, and B neurons are larger, but the size distribution of the two populations overlaps. More recently, it was demonstrated that these two neuronal systems have different immunocytochemical features. The C preganglionic fibers contain an LHRH-like peptide, which is responsible for late synaptic events. The B preganglionic fibers contain CGRP, whose role has not yet been established. The principal neurons all contain adrenaline, but neuropeptide Y is also present in C neurons and could be a second transmitter at peripheral junctions. SP-containing fibers also pass through the ganglia, but give rise to intraganglionic synapses only rarely, except in the celiac plexus. Galanin can coexist with neuropeptide Y in certain C neurons. Numerous principal neurons are immunoreactive for VIP. Chromaffin cells contain noradrenaline and metenkephalin, and some contain SP or LHRH; they are endocrine cells controlled by preganglionic fibers and can have a modulatory effect on principal neurons endowed with appropriate receptors. The accessibility of frog abdominal ganglia and the anatomical separation of B and C preganglionic fiber pathways provide interesting systems in which to carry out experimentation on the stability and specificity of synaptic contacts. After postganglionic axotomy, the majority of synapses disappear by disruption of synaptic contacts. There is a certain discrepancy between the recovery of synaptic transmission and the reappearance of morphologically identifiable synapses, suggesting that a certain amount of transmission is possible at contacts devoid of synaptic complexes. The selective deafferentation of B or C neurons showed that the subsynaptic apparati are mainly found at B neuron synapses. The course of reinnervation following selective deafferentation reveals the existence of different specificities at B and C synapses: C neurons are easily reinnervated by B preganglionic fibers, whereas C fibers appear fairly ineffective at reinnervating B neurons, even after a long interval. Attempts were made to reinnervate ganglionic neurons with somatic motor nerve fibers. Reinnervation was achieved only rarely, and it is concluded that the ganglionic synapses in the frog have a higher specificity and lower plasticity than in mammals.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Preganglionic fibers in the rat hypogastric nerve project bilaterally to pelvic ganglia.

Stimulation of the hypogastric nerve (HGN) often evokes bilateral responses in some pelvic organs. Retrograde labeling studies indicate that axons of postganglionic neurons often cross to the opposite side. However, there is little information available as to whether preganglionic fibers in the HGN have a contralateral projection to pelvic ganglia. A retrograde tracer was injected into the left major pelvic ganglion (MPG) in rats receiving various lesions of preganglionic nerves (HGN and pelvic nerve, PN). The lumbar spinal cord was then examined for location and number of dye-filled neurons. In a second approach, the incidence of synaptophysin immunoreactivity (SN-IR) perineuronal profiles (baskets) was examined in the MPG and in the accessory pelvic ganglia (APG) after nerve lesions. Labeled neuronal profiles were found in spinal cord nuclei (Lumbar1-2) after dye injection of the MPG in animals with an intact contralateral HGN. Cutting both HGNs virtually eliminated dye labeling in the lumbar cord, as did severing commissural branches (CB) between pelvic ganglia (leaving the contralateral HGN intact). Some SN-IR baskets were found in the left APG when only the contralateral HGN was intact, but baskets were rare when all four preganglionic nerves were cut. It could not be determined whether the HGN projects to the contralateral MPG, since SN-IR baskets were numerous in the MPG even when all four nerves were cut. This study has shown that some preganglionic fibers in the HGN synapse on neurons in contralateral pelvic ganglia. Both the APG and MPG receive contralateral innervation, but it is likely that neurons in the APG are the primary target of this input. Thus, in addition to crossing postganglionic fibers, a portion of the bilateral control of pelvic tissues is accomplished by preganglionic fibers which target autonomic neurons in contralateral ganglia.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

CYP6D1 protects thoracic ganglia of houseflies from the neurotoxic insecticide cypermethrin.

CYP6D1 is a housefly cytochrome P450 known to metabolize neurotoxic pyrethroid insecticides. To determine if the nervous system was capable of metabolizing pyrethroids, we examined CYP6D1-mediated in vitro metabolism in thoracic ganglia from pyrethroid-resistant (LPR) and -susceptible (CS) strains of housefly. SDS-PAGE/immunoblotting revealed that CYP6D1 was expressed in all tagmata and in thoracic ganglia of both strains, but in all cases the levels of CYP6D1 were higher in the LPR strain. Using a CYP6D1-specific antiserum, we found CYP6D1 to be the major, and possibly the only, P450 isozyme involved in cypermethrin metabolism in thoracic ganglia homogenates. Additionally, thoracic ganglia homogenates from LPR houseflies metabolize more cypermethrin than preparations from susceptible flies. This metabolism was inhibited by piperonyl butoxide and a CYP6D1-specific antibody. Our results indicate that thoracic ganglia of LPR houseflies are protected from the neurotoxin cypermethrin by virtue of the higher levels of CYP6D1 compared to the susceptible houseflies. This P450-mediated detoxification of an insecticide at the level of the target tissue helps to explain the high levels of resistance to pyrethroids in the LPR strain.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Ultrastructure and biochemistry of sympathetic ganglia in idiopathic orthostatic hypotension.

The role of transsynaptic dysfunction in the pathogenesis of idiopathic orthostatic hypotension (IOH, or idiopathic autonomic insufficiency) was examined microscopically and biochemically in autopsy specimens. Light microscopy of the sympathetic ganglia showed abnormalities in all 4 IOH patients, including focal phagocytosis of neurons, increased numbers of satellite cells, and perivascular lymphocytic infiltrates. Electron microscopy revealed proliferation and hypertrophy of satellite cells and abnormalities in the unmyelinated axons. In contrast, the spinal cord intermediolateral columns, containing the presynaptic neurons, were unremarkable in 1 patient, exhibited only mild gliosis in another, and showed neuron loss and fibrillary gliosis in 2 patients. Postsynaptic dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH) activity was decreased at least fourfold (p less than 0.02) in sympathetic ganglia of patients with IOH, while tyrosine hydroxylase (T-OH) was normal. Ganglion choline acetyltransferase (ChAc) activity, an index of presynaptic function and integrity, was normal in the IOH group. A number of our observations suggest that presynaptic disease is not an absolute requirement for adrenergic abnormalities in IOH. The intermediolateral columns of the spinal cord were histologically normal in 2 of the patients with IOH, and ultrastructural abnormalities in sympathetic ganglia were consistent with primary adrenergic degeneration. In addition, presynaptic ChAc activity was normal in IOH ganglia, whereas postsynaptic DBH activity was depressed. Finally, postsynaptic T-OH activity, which is regulated by transsynaptic mechanisms, was normal in IOH ganglia.

Adrenergic Fibers↗
PubMed2004

Gene expression profiling of cranial sensory ganglia that transmit food intake stimuli.

Peripheral cranial sensory nerves projecting into the oral cavity receive food intake stimuli and transmit sensory signals to the central nervous system. They are derived from four cranial sensory ganglia, trigeminal, geniculate, petrosal, and nodose ganglia, each of which contains multiple kinds of sensory neurons with different cell morphologies and neuronal properties. We investigated the complex properties of these neurons from the viewpoint of gene expression using DNA microarrays. The 498 genes were selected from a total of 8,740 genes as showing tissue-dependent expression on the microarray by hierarchical cluster analysis, in which several genes known to be differentially expressed in cranial sensory ganglia are included. This suggests that DNA microarray cluster analysis revealed a number of characteristic genes for sensory neurons in these ganglia. Among the selected 498 genes, 44 genes are associated with neurotransmission, such as neuropeptides, their receptors, and vesicle transport, and 26 are ion channels regulating membrane potentials. The identification of a number of genes related directly to neural properties indicates that these sensory ganglia contain heterogeneous types of neurons with different neural properties.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

TRPC6 immunoreactivity is colocalized with neuronal nitric oxide synthase in extrinsic fibers innervating guinea pig intrinsic cardiac ganglia.

Tachykinins depolarize guinea pig intracardiac neurons by activating nonselective cationic channels. Recently, members of the transient receptor potential family of membrane channels (TRPC) have been implicated in the generation of G protein-coupled receptor-activated nonselective cationic currents. We have investigated whether guinea pig cardiac neurons exhibit immunoreactivity to TRPC. Our results showed that nerve fibers within guinea pig intrinsic cardiac ganglia exhibited immunoreactivity to TRPC6. After culture of cardiac ganglia whole-mount explants for 72 hours, the TRPC6-IR fiber networks were absent. Therefore, the TRPC6-IR fibers were derived from sources extrinsic to the heart. A small percentage ( approximately 3%) of intracardiac neurons also exhibited TRPC6 immunoreactivity in control preparations, and the percentage of cells exhibiting TRPC6 immunoreactivity was not changed following explant culture for 72 hours. The few intrinsic TRPC6-IR neurons also exhibited nitric oxide synthase (NOS) immunoreactivity, indicating that they were nitrergic as well. We compared the immunohistochemical staining patterns of TRPC6-IR fibers with the staining patterns of a number of other neurotransmitters or neurotransmitter synthetic enzymes that mark specific extrinsic inputs to the intrinsic cardiac ganglia. The TRPC6-IR fibers were not immunoreactive for choline acetyltransferase, tyrosine hydroxylase, or substance P. However, the TRPC6-IR fibers exhibited immunoreactivity to neuronal NOS. Therefore, we propose that the TRPC6-IR fibers within the guinea pig intrinsic cardiac ganglia are vagal sensory fibers that also contain NOS. We found, in support of this conclusion, that TRPC6-IR cells were also present in sections of nodose ganglia.

Animals↗